Immokalee's Fields of Hope

by Carlene A. Thissen

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595256678
• ISBN13: 9780595256679
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Writer's Showcase Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

In My Own Backyard

Of the many books about the development of Southwest Florida, Fields of Hope is one of the most enlightening and interesting. As a child growing up in nearby Naples, Immokalee was always that place we only went to for fresh vegetables at the Farmer's Market. When I became an adult and chose my profession and volunteer activities, Immokalee became a much different place to me, with a wonderfully warm population of mixed cultures and colors. This book is a beautiful representation of Immokalee and richly explains how Immokalee came to be.

Human side of immigration

This book shows the human side of immigration issues, with the histories of real people who came from Mexico, Haiti and Guatemala. Why? Because there was work here. It is also the history of Immokalee and how agriculture expanded in the 1960s and 1970s due to Castro's takeover of Cuba. And it includes a look at Father Richard Sanders, Immokalee's own saint. It's a great book that everyone should read.

A wonderful journey

> It was more than just a book about immigration. We are receiving life lessons; lessons against bigotry, lessons for charity, and in sociology.<br>><br>> Of course it touches on necessary ways we have to look at our fellow man's struggles to have a better life. We need to be willing to take a closer look at the illegal immigrant, and be willing to welcome these people that want to work in a country we take for granted. We need to learn acceptance of those that are different from us--financially, culturally--in many ways.<br>><br>> The author is shaking us into the reality of how good we've got it in the United States. And that it's essential to be willing to share what we are blessed with here. We take a lot for granted in this exceptional, abundant country of ours, and we need to look at what we've got and give back--whether it's our time or our money--to the people that need our help. It's not necessarily charity--it's our obligation as human beings.<br>><br>> I feel Carlene Thissen's book touches us in many ways, individually and as a country. We need to wake up. We need to be grateful for what we've got and we need to be willing to be more loving rather than judgmental, of our fellow human beings struggling to just have a decent life.<br>> As a layperson, I truly enjoyed Immokalee's Fields of Hope. It was interesting and thoughtful. I would not only recommend it to friends, but to teachers in schools. I believe this could be a very good tool for social studies.

Great book!

"Immokalee's Fields of Hope" puts a human face to the plight of immigrant field workers. It is deserving of being read by anyone interested in the inner-workings of America's immigration policies. But it's not just a political book. There isconsiderable background and history included in the text, as well. The author is passionate about the subhect and the entire manuscript has been well thought out and skillfully executed.

Understanding Immigration

This book was a real eye-opener for me. I had many of the same questions that the author presented at the beginning of the book: Who are these people? Why do they come here? Why do they send money home? Do they just come to take and not give anything? Before reading the book I had no answers to these questions. I realize that attitudes I had towards our newest immigrants was based on ignorance. This is a story of Latin American immigrants and their move to a special place in southern Florida. This place, Imokalee, is special because there always seems to be work there - work that no one else wants to do. The author presents these immigrants as real people with real needs and struggles. They are looking for work and a better life. They have endured hardships and will endure much more for a chance at a better life. I like the way she calls them the "last heres". She reminds us that we were all "last heres" at one time and all looking for a better life for our families. I came away from this book understanding that these people need and deserve our help and support. All Americans should read this book.